Combination bottle uncapper, recapper, and ice-breaker



M. O. POLSON Dec. 23, 1952 COMBINATION BOTTLE UNCAPPER, R'EJCAPPER, AND ICE-BREAKER Filed Nov. 14', 1947 INVENTOR. M/ZEJ 0. POLSO/V W W M/m'aon Patented Dec. 23, .1952

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION BOTTLE UNCAPPER, RECAPPER, AND ICE-BREAKER 1 Claim.

This invention relates to tools for removing and replacing bottle caps, and more particularly to a combination tool for uncapping and recapping bottles and for crushing ice.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved combination tool for uncapping and replacing caps on bottles, and serving also as an ice crushing implement, said tool being very simple in construction, easy to operate and efficient in performance.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved bottle cap removing device which is also employed to recap bottles by impact, the impact being derived by means also serving at times for crushing ice, said device being inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, and reliable in operation.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a combination tool constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a bottom end view of the tool, taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, II generally designates the tool. The tool comprises an elongated rigid rod I2 which is threaded at its top and bottom ends. Secured to the bottom end of rod l2 by means of nuts I3 and I4 is a rigid cap member l5 having a cylindrical skirt portion I6. Encircling rod I2 and welded or otherwise rigidly secured thereto a short distance above the nut I3 is a washer I'I serving as a stop or anvil. Overlying the washer I1 and encircling the rod I2 is a cushion washer I8 of rubber or the like.

Threaded onto the top end of rod I2 is a member I9 serving as a bottle cap remover, said member being locked rigidly to the rod by a nut bearing upwardly on a split spring lock washer 2I interposed between nut Eli and hook member I9. The member I9 comprises a relatively long upstanding arm 22 and a relatively short upstanding arm 23 spaced from arm 22 and formed with a concave bottle neck engaging edge 24. The member I9 is employed to uncap a bottle by placing the long arm 22 over the bottle cap with the short arm 23 engaged under the edge of the skirt of the cap and then swinging rod I2 upwardly, the bottle being meanwhile held firmly.

Arm 22 fulcrums on one top edge of the cap, whereby the opposite side of the cap is lifted off the mouth of the bottle by the short arm 23.

Designated at 25 is a weight member, of heavy metal or the like, which is slidable on rod l2 between nut 29 and resilient washer l8. In recapping a bottle, the cap is placed on the bottle mouth and cap member I5 is placed over the cap with rod I2 in vertical position. Weight 25 is raised to a substantial height on rod I 2 and allowed to drop onto the resilient washer I8. The impact of weight 25 is transmitted to cap member 15, which is thereby forced downwardly over the corrugated skirt of the bottle cap, press-- ingthe skirt corrugations inwardly over the bead on the bottle mouth. This firmly locks the cap on the bottle mouth in sealing relation thereon, whereby the gaseous or liquid contents of the bottle is retained therein until the bottle is again opened.

The upper portion of rod I2 is formed with a transverse bore 25' and is flattened at opposite sides thereof sub-adjacent said bore, as shown at 26, 25. Secured in said bore is an inverted U -shaped spring wire member 21 having side arms extending downwardly along said flattened surfaces 26, 26 and protruding slightly with respect to the cylindrical surface of rod I2. The upper portion of member 2'! is surrounded by and locked to rod I2 by nut 26 in the manner indicated in Figure 2.

The side arms of member 21 may be frictionally engaged with the bore of weight member 25 by raising said weight member into abutment with the nut 28. This serves to frictionally secure the weight member in elevated position on the rod I2. By employing the lower portion of rod I2 as a handle, the weight member 25 may then be utilized as a hammer for crushing ice for use in cold drinks and the like. The weight member 25 may be readily released by manually pulling it downwardly out of frictional engagement with the resilient side arms of the U-shaped spring member 2?.

The cap member I5 is formed to closely fit the top portion a bottle cap so that when it is driven downwardly by the impact of the descending weight member 25 it will provide the necessary inward crimping force on the corrugated skirt of the bottle cap. The resilient washer I8 cushions the impact of weight member 25 to prevent shattering the bottle by the shock resulting from the sudden termination of the descent of the weight member.

While a specific embodiment of a combination bottle uncapper, bottle recapper and ice crushing tool has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In combination, a rod, a weight mounted on said rod for movement therealong, combined stop and retaining means on said rod and spaced from one end of the rod and with which said weight is adapted to be engaged when moved along the rod in a direction away from said one end of the rod, said weight having a bore slidably engagin said rod, said means comprising a member fixed on said rod with which the weight is adapted to engage when moved in the said direction, a resilient element on said rod including spring arms 4 extending along opposite sides of the rod and arranged to be frictionally engaged by the bore of the weight whereby the weight is releasably held in engagement with said member, an abutment adjacent and secured to the opposite end 01 said rod having a surface to receive impact from said weight, and a tool operated by said impact.

MILES O. POLSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 875,940 Mason Jan. '7, 1908 1,360,321 Rosenfeld Nov. 30, 1920 1,409,585 Rouse Mar. 14, 1922 1,421,698 Lebherz July 4, 1922 

